Category Archives: The Howl

Madison, WI – Yesterday morning I received a text from my friend Nick Mortensen telling me that his apartment complex was on fire. After waking to a knocking on the door, he saw the the fire trucks outside, but didn’t hear any smoke alarms. No one even yelled ‘Fire!’ Nonetheless, he grabbed some things and went to the club for a workout. By the time he returned, flames had engulfed the roof of the building.
One of the things I like most about Nick is that he doesn’t sweat the small shit. By the end of the day, after he’d… Continue Reading

My father, for most of his life, operated a printing press. He was also a de facto brand evangelist for Anhueser-Busch. The same way some men wear cufflinks, my dad, you could say, wore a Budweiser. When I think of him, I don’t see his face, but rather him gripping a can of Bud.
Of the things my father passed onto me nothing has given me greater pleasure than his love for beer. If it’s truly every parents desire to see their children better off than they, my father should be pleased that by the time I reached legal… Continue Reading

So, I feel really bad neglecting my duties here at The Feral Scribe. As you may have guessed from the dateline, I’m still in Madison. I’m awaiting decisions that will assist me in figuring out what to do with my life.
Earlier this week I had a job interview that may or may not have gone well (I can never tell). It was one of those rare opportunities that I jumped at, though I’m pretty sure I’ll be edged out by someone with more experience. A decision will likely soon be made, at which time I’ll know whether I’m here… Continue Reading

Madison, WI – I’ve been back home for nearly a month now. The plan was to drop off my belongings, which I hauled back from Philly, then head south along the Mississippi to New Orleans. Based on the destruction from the gazillion tornadoes that have torn through Missouri and other states, I’d argue the decision to not leave right away was somewhat fortuitous. Although, I am pretty certain the new ultra-wide angle lens I purchased this week would’ve captured the destruction well.
I began working on a cover story for Madison’s weekly tabloid for both the cash and the glory.… Continue Reading

When people learn that I live in my van while traveling America, I hear one of two replies: Seriously! and Seriously?
I’m always shocked that anyone could think this way of traveling is anything less than awesome. Generally, people seem intrigued that I spend a good part of my year tooling around this vast and magnificent land, but it’s the “living in a van” part that many seem aghast at.
Sure my van, Purple Thunder, doesn’t have a couch or a television. It does not have a refrigerator or an oven or a garbage disposal. There is no running water,… Continue Reading

After three years in Philadelphia, I’m moving home. My worldly possessions stuffed inside Purple Thunder. Waiting for the mail to arrive.
Then I’m out.
I’ll miss the city. (Parts of it.) Great restaurants, museums and architecture. And the grit. Loved the grit.
Never settled in Philly. Never felt like a home. To much traffic, grime and so many people.
And the heat.
Never liked the heat. (It alone was a deal breaker.)
So long Philly!
It was never meant to be.

Soaring gas prices mean many are unable to take long road trips this summer. Hell, if gas goes any higher, I’ll have to hitchhike rather than drive around America. It’s hard to imagine that when I began driving gas was around a dollar a gallon. Ah, the good old days.
At any rate, for those of you unable to venture far from home in the coming months, here is a list of my favorite road trip/travel flicks that may assuage the pain of spending more to travel less.
The Wages of FearSherman’s MarchY TU MAMÁ TAMBIÉNLittle… Continue Reading

Ridley Township, PA – Some stories are just plain ridiculous. On Thursday, a four-month-old Vietnamese potbellied pig named Steve managed to cut loose from his Clymer Street home, where he lived with his owner, Brian Maguire, 24, and Maguire’s girlfriend, Bernadette Broadhurst.
Early Thursday morning, Maguire realized his six-pound buddy was missing. After scouring the neighborhood in this Philadelphia suburb, he called the Delaware County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals who told him that police had the baby pig.
To Maguire’s dismay, police had nothing but bad news. They informed Maguire that keeping farm animals as pets… Continue Reading

Yesterday officially kicked off my 200 Day Weekend, being that Friday was my last day at work. Still, I woke early, brewed coffee and made French Toast and spent more than 12 hours watching a Star Trek: Next Generation marathon. The rain fell hard most of the day, so I don’t feel bad wasting the first official day of my elongated weekend. Unless misfortune strikes, I have 199 more in my pocket.
I’d like to begin traveling ASAP, but I’ve got business to shore up in Philly before my lease expires on April 30. More importantly, Purple Thunder needs… Continue Reading

Memorial Day weekend may bring with it record gas prices, which doesn’t bode well for those like me who’ve planned an entire summer of traveling by motor vehicle, in my case a gigantic gas-guzzling Ford E-150 Conversion Van. Luckily, there are numerous ways to get more mileage from your dollars. Here are some money saving tips for every road tripper.
City Pass
City Pass offers an affordable way of taking in museums, zoos and other points of interest. Available in nine major American cities and one in Canada, City Pass shaves 50 percent off your admission to designated locations. Each… Continue Reading